Democrats Pass Bipartisan Bill To Stop War Profiteering

October 10, 2007
Democrats Pass Bipartisan Bill To Stop War Profiteering

By a vote of 375-3, the House has passed the War Profiteering Prevention Act, H.R. 400. The bill makes war profiteering a felony. If this legislation becomes law, anyone found guilty of profiting excessively from military action or reconstruction may be subject to 20 years in prison and fines up to $1 millionor as much as twice the illegal profits of their crime.

Last week, the Democratic Congress also passed legislation that would bring all United States government contractors in the Iraq war zone under the jurisdiction of American criminal law. The measure would require the F.B.I. to investigate any allegations of wrongdoing.

U.S. House tells Bush to Leave Iraq

March 23, 2007
U.S. House tells Bush to Leave Iraq

Canadian Press: WASHINGTON — U.S. Democrats forced a dramatic clash with President George W. Bush over his war policy today by passing a bill requiring American combat troops to come home next year.

The House of Representatives, in a close vote of 218-212, passed an emergency spending bill that funds the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan but demands most U.S. soldiers leave Iraq by Sept. 1, 2008, at the latest.

The bold move earned a swift and blunt response from Bush, who said the House "abdicated its responsibility."

On Iraq, 50% Trust Dems, 38% Prefer GOP

March 23, 2007
On Iraq, 50% Trust Dems, 38% Prefer GOP

As the House of Representatives narrowly passed legislation requiring most U.S. troops to leave Iraq by September 2008, 50% of Americans say they trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle the situation in Iraq. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 38% trust Republicans more on this topic. Those figures have been relatively constant for several months. On the eve of Election 2006, 49% trusted Democrats more on Iraq while 42% placed their trust in the GOP (see history).

A separate survey found that just 30% of Americans give the President good or excellent marks for his handling of the situation in Iraq.

Men prefer Democrats on Iraq by a narrow 48% to 43% margin. Women, however, have a very strong preference for Nancy Pelosi´s party. Fifty-two percent (52%) of women trust Democrats while just 35% have more confidence in Republicans.

Veterans boost Democrats' Iraq war exit plan

March 21, 2007
Veterans boost Democrats' Iraq war exit plan

Murphy, a former paratrooper who went to Iraq shortly after the 2003 invasion, is in his third month on Capitol Hill. But as the only Iraq war veteran in Congress, the 33-year-old freshman has become a central player in the most intense lobbying effort since Democrats assumed the majority in January.

As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and her top lieutenants work to rally Democrats behind a bill to force President Bush to begin bringing troops home no later than next March, they are relying on lawmakers like Murphy who have served in the military.